South Africa faces meat supply crisis

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa is facing a severe disruption in its meat supply chain as two animal health issues—foot-and-mouth disease in cattle and halted chicken imports from Brazil—impact access to affordable protein.

The government has suspended poultry imports from Brazil, a key supplier, due to concerns over bird flu, triggering an immediate gap in chicken availability.

At the same time, foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks have led to restrictions on cattle movement, further straining the supply of beef across local markets.

These developments come at a time when many South Africans are already struggling with high unemployment and rising inflation, placing extra pressure on household food budgets.

Local chicken producers are unlikely to meet the growing demand anytime soon, as they contend with high feed prices, inconsistent electricity supply, and transport challenges.

While the government has responded with emergency poultry containment measures, including large-scale vaccinations, the sudden halt in imports has already started affecting food distribution in low-income areas.

With both beef and chicken in short supply, there is concern that food insecurity could increase, especially in communities that rely heavily on these meats as primary protein sources.

Need for swift government action

To prevent a deeper food crisis, experts are calling on the South African government to diversify its import sources by speeding up trade negotiations with other countries in South America, Asia, or within the Southern African Development Community.

Simultaneously, there are growing demands for increased support for local meat producers to help expand capacity and overcome current production bottlenecks.

Such support could include financial assistance, subsidies for poultry feed and animal health services, and investments in storage and transportation systems.

Protecting consumers from rapid food price inflation is another urgent concern, with short-term price controls or targeted food subsidies proposed as possible interventions.

However, any such policies must be carefully planned to avoid sparking illegal markets or further supply distortions.

Public updates and plant-based alternatives

The government is also being urged to communicate clearly and regularly about food availability, disease containment, and progress on alternative import deals to reduce uncertainty and panic buying.

Public campaigns encouraging temporary reliance on eggs, legumes, or plant-based proteins may help relieve pressure on the meat supply chain.

Ultimately, the current crisis highlights underlying structural weaknesses in South Africa’s food system, with experts stressing the importance of long-term investment in disease monitoring, infrastructure, and local agro-processing to build resilience.

Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.